The increase is from what had been a 10-week low. But basically, claims have been ranging between the mid-330,000s and mid-370,000s all year. Like other employment indicators, the jobless claims figures have been signalling that job growth remains modest.

The data have also been skewed a bit in recent weeks, Bloomberg News says, by "annual auto-plant shutdowns."

"New orders for manufactured durable goods in June increased $9.9 billion or 4.2 percent to $244.5 billion. ... Transportation equipment, also up four of the last five months, led the increase, $9.9 billion or 12.8 percent to $87.1 billion. This was led by nondefense aircraft and parts, which increased $6.5 billion."